Khushi Doshi
Published On: March 23, 2022, at 12:36 IST
The Union Public Service Commission has opposed an Appeal with the Supreme Court requesting an additional chance for candidates who were unable to sit in the Civil Services Mains test in January 2022 due to COVID-19.
The UPSC argued in its Affidavit submitted before the Supreme Court that making such an additional effort will result in vacancies being unfilled.
The UPSC stated, “To fulfil its constitutional commitment to furnish personnel to the Government of India on time, it is important that the commission adhere to the test timetable.”
The mains test, which was due to take place last year, was only held in January 2022. However, since they had contracted COVID-19, the petitioners were unable to present in certain of the key test papers.
In their Appeal to the Supreme Court, the Petitioners sought the Court to order Union Public Service Commission to give them an extra opportunity because the commission had given similar alternatives to candidates in previous examinations.
The committee warned that granting an extra try to such students would result in the ‘total derailment’ of post-examination operations for a specific exam, as well as a ‘cascading effect’ on the timetable of other examinations.
It further stated, “Openings in the Central Government would stay unfilled indefinitely, and Union Public Service Commission applicants would be in limbo as to when the results would be released or when the advertising for the next recruitment would be posted.”
The commission also stated, “Candidates must be between the ages of 21 and 35 to take the test, and that they have six opportunities to do so, which is a fair opportunity.”
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